Jalopnik says E82 BMW 1 Series is the Next Great Future Classic

Jalopnik publishes an interesting article on the outgoing BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible. The current generation 1 Series (E82) will be replaced by larger …

Jalopnik publishes an interesting article on the outgoing BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible. The current generation 1 Series (E82) will be replaced by larger and more luxurious 2 Series models, and will be offered in three variants, including an M version: coupe, convertible and M2.

The E82 models debuted in 2007 and has been a successful model for the Munich-based automaker. The 1 Series family will continue to live through the hatchback variants and a second generation is expected in 2018.

Here are a few of their thoughts, but feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below:

The 1-Series is that rarest of creatures these days: the small, rear-wheel-drive coupe. It’s the kind of car you barely see anymore, and one that harkens back to BMW’s own glory days with the New Class cars of the 60s and 70s like the famed 2002, as well as the everyone-and-their-mother-loves-it E30.

Here’s what I’m thinking: some 10, 15, or 20 years from now, the 1-Series may be what the E30 is to buyers today. It will be for people who want a small, purebred sports coupe with impressive performance for not a lot of money. If you find one that hasn’t had the crap kicked out of it, it will make for a fantastic enthusiast bargain.

Like the E30, the case could be made that the first set of 1-Series owners, by and large, didn’t appreciate what they had. Don’t get me wrong — there are tons of 135i and 128i owners out there who enjoy autocross, track days, or just a great back road when there aren’t any cops around. Go on just about any BMW forum and you’ll see tons of 1 owners having a lot of fun with their cars.

You could also argue that the 1-Series is one of the the last of the “pure” BMWs. At the moment, you can’t even buy a new 3-Series sedan anymore with a naturally aspirated straight-six engine. That lineup has gone to two turbocharged fours (which are great engines) or a turbocharged six (which is also a great engine.) Presumably the 2-Series will get the same turbo-centric powerplants, or at least some of them.